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REVIEW: Sony SCD-CE775 CD Player/Recorder

216.214.204.11


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Model: SCD-CE775
Category: CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price: $199.95
Description: Modified by SACDmods.com
Manufacturer URL: Sony
Manufacturer URL: Sony

Review by bean_counter ( A ) on January 17, 2003 at 19:59:52
IP Address: 216.214.204.11
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for the SCD-CE775


I had the opportunity last weekend to do an A-B comparison of a stock Sony SACD player CE775 (mine) vs. an Anker (SACDmods) modified unit (inmate mrrjm's). Both units had at least 200 hours on them, and were assumed to be well broken in.

Both SACD and Redbook were tested; more Redbook than SACD, as our SACD library was rather limited. We listened exclusively in 2-channel.

The comparison was done over at Ray's place (inmate mrrjm), using his excellent system. The Edgarhorn Titans & Seismic Sub (horn) can be brutally revealing speakers, and served as an excellent test vehicle.

So, is the Anker mod worth it when compared head-to-head with a stock unit?

YOU BET.

Probably the most comprehensive comparison was made using the classic 1956 Verve recording of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, reissued on single-layer stereo SACD. We focused on track 3, Moonlight in Vermont. We spent quite a bit of time analyzing the differences between the two units on this track; both Ella and Louis have vocal solos, Louis has a horn solo, and there is some nice brush work from Buddy Rich.

The first difference we noticed was what most folks would probably refer to as "soundstage". The stock unit had a very "flat" sound when compared to the Anker unit; the soloists were very much "out front", with depth and the subtler details of supporting cast often lost in the background. I don't know if I would really call this "soundstage", as much as I would call it a loss of lower level detail when compared to the Anker mod.

The next difference we noted was in the vocals; the stock unit had some "smear" that Anker unit did not. Ella's attacks were not as crisp, and it sounded as if there was a screen in between here and the microphone. Louis's horn had a false tone/timbre; as a trumpet player, I've never liked Louis' horn on CD, it always makes his horn sound like a toy, (good) vinyl works much better. SACD got rid of most of the problem, and the Anker mod eliminated it. Also, Louis' voice wasn't as gravelly (we think, that one may have been more subjective).

The BIG difference for me came in the brush work behind Louis' horn solo. In particular, there's a quick, hard triplet on the snare with the brushes; on the Anker unit, there's a certain "crispness" to this sound that gets a "fuzzy" quality on the stock unit. To me, the difference in sound renders a completely different interpretation of what Rich was trying to do with that fill. Instead of a typical anonymous brush fill from a bored drummer, it suddenly jumps out as a "punctuation mark" to the end of Louis' phrase.

OK, enough of one track on one SACD. We listened to a good bit of other material, from acapella gospel choir to classic rock to metal to large symphonic works to bluegrass to blues to jazz. Some on SACD, most on Redbook. On SACD, the Anker unit performed uniformly well, with correct tone/timbre of voices and instruments; instances where I had objections may well have been recording/transfer related; I wasn't very impressed with the Santana Abraxas SACD in particular. The stock unit was pretty good on SACD, but had some obvious colorations which didn't belong. On Redbook, the Anker unit did much better than I expected; good recordings excellent, and I could be pretty happy with it as far as Redbook goes. The stock unit, however, sounded like a cheap CD player. Ugh.

We also briefly tried a SONY NS755V all-in-one player, just for kicks; my wife bought me one for Christmas, so I could play my SACD's along with DVD Video in our TV room. A quick, three word review for the sound quality of this unit in a dedicated high-end audio system - DON'T DO IT.

My bottom line, the Anker modified CE775 is a cheap entry into a "high-end" source, at least on SACD (and on Redbook performance it is no slouch, but A-B to a high-end CD player is for another day). While the stock unit has potential, the modified unit has made it there.


Product Weakness: It comes in a clunky Sony mass-market package.
Product Strengths: Excellent sound, particularly for the low price of admission. Correct tone/timbre, inner detail, attacks & decays.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Cy Brenaman
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): n/a
Sources (CDP/Turntable): SCD-CE775, SACDmods SCD-CE775
Speakers: Edgarhorn
Cables/Interconnects: not sure
Music Used (Genre/Selections): just about everything
Room Comments/Treatments: listened pretty much near-field
Time Period/Length of Audition: 3 hours +
Type of Audition/Review: Friend's System
Your System (if other than home audition): JBL based 2-ways W/ Edgar horns; DIY I/S coupled PP 6B4G amps; vintage HH Scott 355 tuner/pre; CE775; Thorens TD145




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Topic - REVIEW: Sony SCD-CE775 CD Player/Recorder - bean_counter 19:59:52 01/17/03 ( 11)